close up to a gun chase today in Fayetteville, NC

[billvau]

I was just leaving a gun store (ironically) in Fayetteville, NC when I saw two guys running at high speed across the road. The pursuer was pointing at the guy in the lead. I was just driving past them, when 10-15 feet from my car the second guy pulls a large semi-auto pistol and is pointing it at the first guy. This all happened in seconds and I floored it to be away from any potential stray bullets. Two blocks away I call 911, apparently the first call. As more calls came in to 911, the 911 operator said it was a store robbery and the guy with the gun was the robbery victim.

Seems to me the guy with the gun would be on dangerous grounds pursuing a robbery suspect for a few blocks. I was also surprised when I drove past that area again 10 minutes later that there were only two cops there, casually talking with 3 other people. I thought the place would be crawling with cops. This is in the shopping hub of the city and next to a big gun store (Jim's). I don't know - maybe they got there quickly and the bad guy was already in cuffs.

It was interesting how quickly it all happened, it seemed kind of surreal and does take a few seconds to process what is happening.

 

[MuleRyder]

Wow, good thing you didn't get caught up in that!

 

[billvau]

Yeah, my reaction went from "hey, what are these guys doing?" to " oh <deleted>!" real quickly.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Seems to me the guy with the gun would be on dangerous grounds pursuing a robbery suspect for a few blocks.

He was. That's why it isn't the recommended course of action in that sort of situation.

I thought the place would be crawling with cops.

If no shots were fired and no blood spilled, not likely. It IS Fatalville, after all. They're accustomed to worse. Probably won't even make the next issue of the paper.

 

[Derry 1946]

I'll second Lee's opinion that running for blocks after a thief, gun drawn, is not the best plan. Very glad you came out of it safely.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Damn, was that Jim's? (my SGM worked there, still might)
Or off Bragg?

 

[cooldude14]

well you are on yadkin so dont be suprised haha good ol fayettenam

 

[nccavediver]

All we hear about on Wral is about the marine barricaded in

 

[billvau]

Yes, Jim's pawn shop/gun store on Yadkiin.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Seems to me the guy with the gun would be on dangerous grounds pursuing a robbery suspect for a few blocks.

He would, and you would have been had you tried to intervene, as you had no way of knowing who was pursuing whom.

I was just driving past them, when 10-15 feet from my car the second guy pulls a large semi-auto pistol and is pointing it at the first guy. This all happened in seconds and I floored it to be away from any potential stray bullets. Two blocks away I call 911, apparently the first call.

No one could reasonably ask any more of you.

I may go out without my gun (I don't have a HCP yet), but never my cell phone.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Was this it? If so, it got one line in the crime report today...

YADKIN ROAD: 4600 block, reported at 5:19 p.m. Saturday. Robber took cash from Easy Stop Tobacco. - http://fayobserver.com/articles/2012/01/16/1150700?sac=Crime

 

[MedWheeler]

Kind of funny thing along these lines that I saw many years ago. I was around eighteen years old, delivering pizzas for a living, and aspiring to be a police officer (which I did a few years later.) As I was passing a 7-11 store one night, a youth suddenly bolted from the store and ran full-out across the four-lane road in front of me, disappearing into the dark on the other side. Behind the businesses over there was an alley, and beyond that, some apartment buildings. I pulled around into the alley, intending to note where he went to pass along to LE, but saw no trace of him, so I continued on my delivery. On the way back to the store, I passed the 7-11 again, and noticed two patrol cars parked out front. I stopped in to tell the officers in what area I'd last seen the subject. I asked the officers and clerk if, indeed, a crime had taken place and was told one had not; the officers were just there for coffee. I told them how hard the youth had been running and that it really was as though he had just robbed the place, and the clerk replied: "oh, him. Yeah, he came in and bought a roll of toilet paper!"

 

[billvau]

Lee, it must have been that Easy Stop Tabacco robbery. I goggled it and that was the exact location and time.